Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-15
TO THE LITTLE FOLKS.
Second of Mr.. Meldrum's Series of
Short Talks.
Last Evenings SermOniat the Central
Church---Some New Ideas About
the PrOdIgal son.

last evening, Rev A. b. Medium de-
| llvered the second of his series of short
talks to the little folks.
The text was st. Luke, XVIII And
when he came to himself. he said. etc.
Our last view of the prodigal son, said
| Mr.. Medium, was sad, indeed Cast of
as an orange when men have sucked it,
neglected by his associates. laughed at as
fool by many, pitied by none, he is re-
duced to the direst extremity. He seeks
pleasure. and finds misery. Ambitious
of unhallowed liberty, he sinks to the
condition of the meanest slave While
it lasted, he no doubt thought it a very
jolly life; but. of course, it could not
last long. UNLOCK the pendulum of a
clock. the works will run rapidly and
merrily, but they will soon run down.
So with life uncontrolled and unregu-
lated by reason, conscience and the word
of God. Such life is well called "fast
life" but it is life that is characterized
by no tangible usefulness The past
life of our hero was one of mental alien
alton. Not only had he run away from
home and friends, but he had actually
run away from himself Imagination
had usurped the place OF reason; fiction,
that OF reality There is such thing as
moral madness, Men have much in
common with the lower animals, and so
long rs they keep that plane, ignoring
those elements of their nature that raise
them above and distinguish them from
the brute of creation, they are not vet
themselves; they have not vet come to
themselves" as rational, moral and spir-
itual beings but are out of the circle of
all their happiness and far away
from the purpose of their creation
These stern Iealities-hunger, hardship,
nakedness, wake the prodigal out of his
terrible dellrium. He comes to himself"
and to himself be says, Thou foolr'
His renovated intellect Gwells painfully
ON the past. and is conscious of nothing
but his own dismal wretchedness. Men
generally come to themselves" when
they get into trouble, when they have
spent all, and mo man gives unto them 3"
Affection is Gods messenger. The
mighty famine is no accident, it is Gods
voice sounding through the "far coun>
try, saying to the poor wanderer, Come
home, come home" Poverty, affection,
pain. bereavement. do us great service if
they turn our faces to the better land y
From the painful moment when his eyes
ale opened to his real condition, and
brought, at last, to think of his God,
man, if be is wise, may date the most
blessed time in all his history. After a
severe struggle between his pride and his
sense of duty, he resolves to arise and 90
unto his father, and acknowledge his
folly. 1t was wise resolution. He felt
that he had not only disgraced himself,
but he had dishonored his fathers name.
1t takes moral courage to acknowledge a
wrong. Men rs rule will resort to any
thing rather than TO humble acknowl>
edgement of their faults. The reason is
pride. To stand by our ideal of right, in
spite of the cliques and customs of the
world, is manliness, but to persist in a
course which reason and conscience alike
displays spirit of pride and
meanness.
Having decided what he ought to do,
be does it. He arose and came unto his
father, That promptitude saved him.
There is a time for thought and time
for action time to think. and a time to
quit thinking, and to act The men who
are forever wondering what they ought
w w. iCfioiu5 utCloibus dHtduI maui,
ever doubtful. ever hesitating. are not
The men who can do much for themselves
Or for the world. Promptitude in action
IS necessary to success in any business. |
Ii is absolutely essential in spiritual mat
.ers. All that the devil wants is delay.
Remember this, sighted convictions are
The worst deathbed companions As
you love your souls, do not trifle with |
your convictions. Are you convinced
hat your eternal safety depends upon
your turning your hearts to God2 Then
improve your conviction. and rest not
satisfied until you find yourself at your
Fathers feet Take these words with
you: Father, | have sinned, and am
no more worthy to be called thy son,
but now weary of wandering, take me
10 thy house. Other lords have had |
dominion over me; henceforth let me be |
called by thy name" Weary wandererl
Thy Father loves thee The cord of |
His compassion has still hold of thee
Come homel Come home!